The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-06-25
LITERARY NOTES.

The atlantic Monthly for June opens will,
curious and interesting story by Josiah p.
quincy, called " A Crucial Experiment" 1t
Is, to some extent, a continuation of his
striking sketch, "The Peckster Professor.
ship" which appeared in the November num-
Der. Mr.. A. Lawrence Lowell contributes a
thoughtful article on "The Theory of the,
Social Compact" and Mr.. Scudder,s "Nura-
cry Classics in School, considers the advisa-
oll1ty of using the best of children's fables
and stories for school reading, instead of the
insipid selections in the ordinary reading
books. Mr.. John Fiske writes about "Tbe
competed Work of the Federal Convention,
IN his series of historical papers; and DR..
Holmes continues his interesting account of
MS European experiences. A very prettv-
short story, called "Enceladua." bv a ladv
VINO remains anonymous, gives an account
OF some experiences in the recent earthquake
region OF the Riviera. Mics Sarah Orne
Jewett is represented in this number, not bv
one of her short stories, but by poem emit
tied " The Gagged Bird" The two serials nv.
7. Marion Crawford, and Mrs. OIiphant and
MI Aidr1ch, go on as usual, and the number
closes with some able criticisms and the.
usual departments of the Contributors Clnb
and the Books for the Month. rHouQhton.
Mifiin & Co., Boston.
"A new edition of work of great value
and rare interest, by Rev. James Freeman.
clarke, with the title, "Life and Times of
Jesus, as Related by Thomas Didymus. - ia
nearly ready for publication by Lee & Shep-
ard, Boston. This book was first published
oy this nrm In 1881, and at once commanded
wide attention. OF the authors books. this
Is his favorite one. 1t gives vivid picture
OF the world as it was when Jesus came. and
brings before the mind of the reader re-
markably clear view of Jesus, bis conversa-
tlops and acts, as they appeared to bis dis
clpies and to strangers, placing him in new
point of view, and showing him as he must
have seemed at first to his followers. The
book also explains obscure passages and diff
cult texts in the Gospels, and these explana-
tons are frequently the result of much labor.
Besides, it gives the conclusions of the
most recent investigations by German and
French savants, portraying Judaism in Epypt
and Rome in the first century, and indicat-
ing the work which was done in PROSECUTING
by the Pharisees and Jealous Jews, which
ended in the Jewish war. The human side
of the wonderful life of Jesus is drawn with
striking power by DIR. Clarke, giving its
features as it must have appeared to careless
Romans, bigoted Jews, or to open minded
men and women. The volume presents the
results of profound study, while emitting the
processes by which those results have been
reached 1t is entirely safe to say that no
such pen picture of Jesus and his times has
ever been written, every page actually rivet-
ing the attention of the reader by the CAP
tivating style of the narratives, and the win
ming and inviting language, all investing the
intensely interesting subjects with the most
charming vividness, and lifting the great
work to place in the realm of Christian
biography and history and beside ben Hur''
IN the realm of oriental romance,
George KEENAN,, who has recently re-
turned from his Siberian trip for the Centuru,
made visit to Count Tostoi at the urgent
request of the Siberian State exiles. who
wished the novelist and tractarian to know
the horrors of their situation. The
Century for June contains an account of
this visit and the circumstances leading to it..
told with considerable detail and showing the
Counts striking character and peculiar be-
hets, together with his mode of life. His
views on the problems of the time, as brought
out IN conversations, are presented, The
Mormon and Chinese questions attracted his
comment; and among Americans he spoke
with particular admiration of VIM. LLOYD
Garrison and Theodore Parker. A frontis
piece of the novelist in his peasant blouse
is given.
The series of lectures by Andrew P
Peabody, DID,, LID, Emeritus Professor
OF Christian Morals in Harvard University.
which were published recently in book form
by Lee Shepard, Boston, with the title,
" Harvard Lectures on Moral Philosophy
are now TO be issued with the new name,
christian Morals" for purposes of dis
tinction from the authors earlier work.
The Forum for June contain an ex-
ceptionaly interesting contribution to its
series on Books That Have Helped Me-" by
Andrew Lang-the one English writer, per-
haps, Who can invest causerie on that sub
ject with such charms of style and erudition
as will please every reader
The Lincoln history in the June Century
reviews the story of the assault on Senator
Sumner, and summarize the history of the
bred Scott decision, and the judges opinions
in the case, together with the opinions of
Lincoln and Douglas. In the July Century
the famous Lincoln and Douglas debates will
be described.
It. I. Munger contributes an article
on Education and Social Progress" to the
June Century, in which he criticises GER
tain tendencies of University education.
RAIPH WAL no EMERCnM